A movie so huge it needs repeat viewings

Rating: 9/10 (19 June 2013)

An hour and a half into the movie we're still meeting new characters, most of whom are played by major celebrities of the day. Though many of these characters appear in only a couple of scenes, they are introduced with text at the bottom of the screen giving their name and rank. This technique is not necessarily helpful in keeping track of the action, as there are simply too many characters to memorize during a single sitting, but on repeat viewings the pieces should fall more perfectly into place. And fans of classic war pictures will want to see this one more than once, as the story is enormously entertaining. The storming of the beaches is a monumental action sequence that gives the impression of a full-scale recreation. The Nazi characters' use of actual German rather than German- accented English lends a sense of realism that sets the movie apart from many other war epics of the period. Toward the end of this largely triumphant narrative, Richard Burton's world-weary RAF pilot offers a touch of cynicism that also rings true.